Pages

Friday, March 14, 2008

Round five previews and teams (on RugbyHeaven Australia)

Super 14 previews for this weekend's round five action (all times AEDT):

FRIDAY, MARCH 14CHIEFS v STORMERS

at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 17.35pm

BRUMBIES v HURRICANES

at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 7.40pm

SATURDAY, MARCH 15BLUES v WESTERN FORCE

at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, 3.30pm

CRUSADERS v CHEETAHS

at AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 5.35pm

Last meeting: Crusaders 49-28 in Bloemfontein, February 24, 2007

First versus last and should be a formality for the Crusaders, especially as Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made eight changes in naming a youthful side. However, the Crusaders have just completed a massive amount of travel - two weeks in South Africa, then Perth on the way home - and Robbie Deans has made six changes of his own to "freshen up" his side. Crusaders No.8 Nasi Manu and hooker Ti'i Paulo will make their first Super 14 starts among five changes in the forwards, none of them injury-related. The Cheetahs gave the Chiefs a run for their money last week and the ingredients for an upset are there if the Crusaders are complacent, however ridiculous that might sound. Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Scott Hamilton, Casey Laulala, Stephen Brett, Sean Maitland, Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Nasi Manu, Richard McCaw (capt), Reuben Thorne, Michael Paterson, Brad Thorn, Ben Franks, Ti'i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett. Res: Corey Flynn, Campbell Johnstone, Ali Williams, Mose Tuiali'i. Kahn Fotuali'i, Caleb Ralph, Kieran Read